Jane and Finch food bank looks for new home after getting priced out of headquarters

A food bank that's been helping to feed Jane and Finch families amid rising inflation and a deepening food insecurity crisis is being priced out of its home of 24 years.

The Society for the Living Food Bank says it was forced to leave its headquarters on Eddystone Avenue this summer after a new landlord raised the rent from $1,450 to more than $3,800 per month. 

The forced relocation has been difficult after seeing record-breaking demand in recent months, says Venunye Nyamadi, the food bank's director.

"[It's] very sad that our clients are going through a housing problem and now the food bank also has a problem," she told CBC Toronto.

The massive rent increase has left the food bank operating out of two locations: the Oakdale Community Centre, which is temporary, and the Toronto Public Library's Jane and Sheppard branch.

The food bank's struggle highlights two issues at play in Jane and Finch. One is the increasing gentrification of the area, with rising prices for homes, rental units and now commercial space. The other is food insecurity — a growing problem across northwest Toronto that food banks says they aren't able to keep up with.

One client, who CBC Toronto agreed to keep anonymous, spends most of their income on rent and relies on the food bank to make due. And by the size of the growing line each time they visit, they say they aren't the only one.

"High food cost, high rent, low social assistance — I come here a lot," they said.

"But I notice now the line has tripled … by the time you get up [to the front of the line], sometimes there's not much left."

The Society for the Living's old unit, which was more than 2,000-square feet, was one of several at an industrial park near 274 Eddystone Ave. just south of Finch Avenue West and west of Jane Street.

The food bank now stores food in three shipping containers parked at its two outdoor locations, raising concerns about what clients will have to endure this winter when they have to line up for food outside.

We used to do our breakfast program where members would come in and have tea and breakfast as they wait for their food," said program manager Aisha Wovenu.

She says it's particularly concerning with temperatures dropping. "Whatever the weather circumstances, people are waiting because of the need for access to food."

The church that the food bank shared space with, Apostles Revelation Society, also left in the summer after the rent increased.